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Czech government cuts public broadcaster budget by 14%, shifts funding to state
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Economy & Trade

Czech government cuts public broadcaster budget by 14%, shifts funding to state

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The Czech government approved a plan to directly fund public radio and television from state budgets, replacing citizen fees.
  • The budget for public broadcasting will be cut by 14% for 2027, returning it to 2023 levels.
  • Critics, including the opposition and citizens, fear this move will limit the independence of public media and increase government control.

Prague, Czech Republic – The conservative Czech government has approved a significant shift in the funding of its public radio and television services. Effective next year, these entities will be financed directly from the state budget, replacing the long-standing system of fees paid by viewers and listeners since 2008. This change is accompanied by a substantial budget cut of 14% for 2027, bringing the funding back to levels seen three years prior.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis justified the decision by stating that both public broadcasting entities have "not shown interest in saving." He pointed to cost-cutting measures implemented by the BBC in the UK and public broadcasters in Germany and France as examples for the Czech Republic to follow. The proposed budget for 2027 allocates 236 million euros to public television and 86 million euros to public radio.

both entities have not shown interest in saving

— Andrej BabisThe Czech Prime Minister justified the government's decision to change public broadcasting funding.

However, the reform faces strong opposition. The move requires parliamentary approval, where the ruling coalition holds an absolute majority. Critics, including opposition parties and tens of thousands of citizens who have protested the reform multiple times, argue that direct state funding will undermine the independence of public media and increase government oversight. The Minister of Culture, Oto Klempir, has called for "greater effectiveness" in resource utilization by the broadcasters.

Further measures are being considered that could place public radio and television under the supervision of the National Control Office (NKU), an organization that audits state and semi-state entities. Employees of public television are currently engaged in a work-to-rule campaign and have called for a strike on June 22nd to protest these government initiatives. While the broadcasters will still be allowed to carry advertising, their capacity will be restricted, with public television limited to 1% of daily broadcast time compared to 15% for private channels.

greater effectiveness

— Oto KlempirThe Czech Minister of Culture called for improved resource management by public broadcasters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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